Bill,
I have to agree with DJ and Hillary. If not sent, then don't for goodness sake send it.
LPH
service committee .
25 columbia heights
brooklyn, ny 11201 .
Bill,
I have to agree with DJ and Hillary. If not sent, then don't for goodness sake send it.
LPH
scientific american runs an article rebutting some of the most common creationist arguments.
short and to the point.. this is the first page.
click for the following ones.. see http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleid=000d4fec-7d5b-1d07-8e49809ec588eedf&catid=2.
pomegranate,
Certain bacteria can directly metabolize inorganic materials such as hydrogen sulfide, iron, nitrogen etc. Photosynthesis is the conversion of essentially inorganic material into organic (sugar). Amino acids are easily synthesized from purely inorganic (non living, never have been alive) materials. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
Your notion that all food, even at the molecular level is somehow alive, or is the residue of something that once lived is incorrect.
LPH
Edited by - Lionel_P_Hartley on 4 August 2002 20:1:34
Edited by - Lionel_P_Hartley on 4 August 2002 20:2:19
8-1-02, addition to 7-31-02 press release .
joe anderson-disfellowshipped!
jehovahs witness child advocate.
Sadly, the WTS realizes that it is irrelevant. That is its strength. While no - one really cares what it does,
it can do as it pleases.
watchtower 1965, page 429 says, "instead of opposing a change in scriptural understanding, organizational procedure or organizational structure,it is better to adjust oneself to it, remembering that, whatever change is made by god's organization, the change is for the good of those in it.
to resist this advancement is to resist jehovah's spirit that operates on the organization, causing it to advance.......although a person may not at first appreciate the need for a change, as time passes he will begin to see how it benefits the organization.
".........so there you have it, whether you think something is right or wrong is not the point; the point is you must do as you are told, because benefitting the organization is all that's important.
minimus,
Well put. We all need to realize that Jehovah is directing his organization and, no matter what we might think, changes or new policies are for the general good. If a few - or even many - individuals suffer or die, then so be it, sad as that is. They will be resurrected. In this wicked old system it is impossible to have a perfect organization and so "mistakes" - if they are that, for does not warfare involve sacrifice? - will invariably lead to problems or cost lives. Did Israel enter battle with the expectation that all warriors would survive? Surely not!
Let us cleave to Jah deep in the bowels of his spirit directed organization. What folly it would be to tire out now that we are in the very last days of the last days. Be glad you people!
Thanks minimus and Dutchie for posting some brightness in this tired and spent old world,
LPH
Edited by - Lionel_P_Hartley on 30 July 2002 22:57:55
it should be obvious by now that the society's vindictive policies.
are having a negative effect.
how many angry and disgruntled.
Room215,
I agree - in fact that was my intended point. In Jwdom, "private," in practice, means deep within one's own thoughts. Nothing else can be allowed. That's why I felt that metatron's suggestions, while so well intentioned, missed the mark of what is actually required.
I do appreciate the clarification -
Sincerely,
LPH
it should be obvious by now that the society's vindictive policies.
are having a negative effect.
how many angry and disgruntled.
Metatron,
Your points are good, but, in all honesty I don't think they don't go anywhere near far
enough. In fact JWs can and do hold opinions in private. The problem is that they aren't
allowed to discuss their opinions freely. Now, "private" might mean a private
discussion but, in reality, that isn't realistic since a chain of such private
conversations could rapidly spread one's "private" opinion far and wide.
Far better to be allowed to be open about one's opinions and free to discuss them with
those who are interested in such discussions. In fact, that would be the single biggest
way to defuse the damage that "apostate revelations" cause - change would then come
naturally with many JWs remaining on board since diversity of opinion would no longer
be such a shock to the organizational system. Thus, the only solution is to abolish
the (JW) concept of apostasy except in cases where someone is clearly preaching
against Christianity itself.
Further, the JWs need to dispense with the notion of "membership." JWs
should be free to identify with the religion or not, no matter how long
it's been since they attended. The leaders should not have time limits and
"tests of fidelity." At this point I think that relaxing the rules a bit would be
terrible - they have to drop them altogether.
The problem isn't so much that the rules are bad, but that the rules exist at all.
LPH
Edited by - Lionel_P_Hartley on 29 July 2002 11:18:55
i have a question on the issue of child abusers within the organization.. i know that it should be reported to the authorities as it is a crime against human laws, but it is also a sin against jehovah so it must handled theocratically also.. my question is: should a child abuser be disfellowshipped from the christian congregation?
Matrix,
The WTS should get out of the business of being a police force. If someone is accused of child abuse then it should be reported to the authorities by the parents/guardians/victim or whoever is approriate. If the parents ask the elders for help, they should recommend going to the authorities.
If the elders become aware of it first they should (a) inform the family affected and (b) inform the authorities. Even if the family wants to keep the situation quiet, citizens should report child molesters in the interest of everyone.
If the molester is found guilty then the congregation should be made aware, publicly, that so and so is a convicted molester.
Whether to DF or not should be based on whether the person is repentant or not. However, even if he/she is, it should still be a matter of public record that so and so in the congregation is a child molester. As families move into the congregation they should be made aware by the elders of who in the congregation could be a danger to their children.
Of cousre, this doesn't cover all possibilities, but separating the legal from the spiritual is a critical step the WTS must take.
LPH
http://homepage.eircom.net/~derek77/2002.mov .
the quality is pretty poor but it's watchable.. --.
but if you pray all your sins are hooked upon the sky.
funkyderek,
I can watch it in my web browsewr, but if I download the file, it won't play - any suggestions?
Figured it out THANKS!
lph
i was able to digitize, and compress the entire dateline nbc show into the smallest file i could manage.
the sound is ok, the picture so so....but you'll get the full impact of the show.. the only program that i have that can send files is icq, so if you don't have icq, just go over to www.download.com, put icq in the search, install the latest version, get yourself a new icq number...and then add my number to your contact list.. my number is 161294253...or alternatively, you can find me under my e-mail address of [email protected].
cheers,.
Peter,
Thanks so much for trying - don't worry about it. If you get it working great, but, again, your efforts are very much appreciated no matter....
Lionel
http://homepage.eircom.net/~derek77/2002.mov .
the quality is pretty poor but it's watchable.. --.
but if you pray all your sins are hooked upon the sky.
ballistic,
You need QuickTime from Apple - but it still won;t run. It just goes thru the entire 25 mins in about 5 secs with no picture, sound, or nothing.
LPH